Diagnosis like a pro: How to check your Mac, iPhone & Studio Display for defects
Apple and its repair partners check Macs and iPhones with special software. You can do this too with our instructions.
iPhone diagnostics.
You notice the display damage immediately, but what about the inside of the iPhone? For example, does the compass sensor still work? When buying a used Apple device, you want to clarify such questions. But you also want to put your iPhone or Mac through its paces before repairing it.
Apple and its service partners can do this with special software from the manufacturer. We show you how you can use the diagnostic tool "Apple Diagnostics" privately and legally.
- Apple Diagnostics reads hidden values to diagnose the device status.
- It checks the speakers, (touch) screen and sensors of iPhones, Macs and the Studio Display, among other things.
- The results are displayed on an Internet-connected Mac or iPad.
Open sesame: the self-service repair program
When a user takes a defective device to an Apple Retail Store or to an Apple Authorized Service Provider (ASP), the ASP uses diagnostic software called Apple Diagnostics. This goes much further than the pre-installed Apple Hardware Test, for example, which used to come with every Mac.
Apple's own tool can identify problems with almost every aspect of the device with astonishing accuracy. Access to this software simplifies the repair process considerably, as it determines exactly what work needs to be carried out and which parts need to be replaced. Until now, private users and independent repair shops did not have access to this tool.
This changed last year - but initially only in the USA. As part of the Self-Service Repair Program (SSRP, see box), which has enabled end users to repair selected Apple products since 2021, self-diagnosis with Apple's diagnostic software has also been possible for non-professionals since December 2023.
Apple Diagnostics currently only works with iPhones (iOS 17 and higher), Macs (macOS Sonoma 14.1 and higher) and the Apple Studio Display. The SSRP has also been available in Europe since December 2022, but users do not yet have browser access to the diagnostics. Apple is planning to bring this service to Europe, but it was not yet available at the time this article went to press. There's a trick to make it work here too, but more on that shortly.
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